"I didn’t hear or see anything. It’s pretty frightening, I usually walk home from work at that time.”

Another resident of Penare Road, Jessica Barraclough, was quick to defend her neighbourhood, despite the recent news.

She said: “We moved here a year ago and people were telling us about the area. But we’ve never had any problems. It’s a nice mixed community and we really like it.”

Meanwhile Cornwall Councillor for Penzance East, Tim Dwelly, added: "We don't have many details yet, but it appears to have taken place in a house of multiple occupation (HMO) with alleged drug activity in the area.

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"I am concerned there are too many bedsits concentrated in just a few streets of Penzance, such as Penare Road and Lannoweth Road. I am asking the Neighbourhood Plan to consider an 'Article 4' planning rule to restrict them.

"Yes we need bedsits in the town, but not all in one small area where they can sometimes become magnets for anti-social behaviour. This is not the first murder in this road in an HMO."

Devon and Cornwall Police has not been able to confirm or add any more details than those outlined in its statement this morning.